Ingrid Newkirk

Ingrid E. Newkirk is president and co-founder of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), and the author of a new book, The PETA Practical Guide to Animal Rights. Her other books include One Can Make A Difference, Making Kind Choices, PETA’s Celebrity Cookbook, Let's Have a Dog Party!, 250 Things You Can Do to Make Your Cat Adore You, and her “cheap airport novel,” Free the Animals!

Ms. Newkirk began her work against cruelty to animals as a Maryland state law enforcement officer and was director of cruelty investigations for the Washington Humane Society/SPCA. Since starting PETA in 1980, she has coordinated the first arrest in U.S. history of a scientist on cruelty to animals charges, helped pass into law the first anti-cruelty law in Taiwan, and achieved the passage of legislation to create the first spay/neuter clinic in Washington, D.C. She spearheaded the closure of Department of Defense underground “wound laboratory,” and has initiated many other campaigns against animal abuse, including ending General Motors’ crash tests on animals.

Her work has made the front pages of The Washington Post and other national newspapers. She is a former Washingtonian of the Year and has been featured for her work for animals in The New Yorker, Time magazine, People magazine, Forbes, the Financial Times, and numerous other publications. She has appeared on television shows all over the world, including Australia's 60 Minutes. She is the subject of a BBC special and the HBO documentary I Am an Animal, which is now available on DVD on demand.

Her will instructs that her body parts be used for political purposes after her demise. When it comes to cruelty, she is considered quite a nag.

You can visit PETA’s Web site at www.PETA.org.